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Tuesday, April 26 2011

SUFFOLK DOWNS’ 2011 LIVE RACING SEASON BEGINS SATURDAY, MAY 21st

EAST BOSTON, MA - The 2011 live racing season at Suffolk Downs, featuring significantly increased purses from a year ago, will begin Saturday, May 21st and continue through November 5th, the track announced today as it introduced its initial racing schedule and other plans for the upcoming season.

As was the case last year when the track celebrated it’s 75th anniversary, Opening Day coincides with the running of the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown. Special first post time on Opening Day is 1:15 p.m. Parking and admission will be free on Opening Day and for the duration of the live meet, the track announced.

Monday, February 07 2011

A Message From Suffolk Downs’ COO Chip Tuttle

We regret that our simulcast menu has been reduced due to the actions of the New England HBPA and other HBPA affiliates around the country. At issue is a purse agreement for the 2011 race meet.

The HBPA's actions show utter contempt for the bettors who have supported its races for years and complete disregard for the hundreds of employees at Suffolk Downs who face dramatically reduced work schedules as a result of the lack of simulcast product. At the same time, it makes it increasingly difficult for us to generate the purse revenue that the HBPA claims is its motivation. We do not know when this situation will improve and we regret any inconvenience this may cause you.

Friday, October 15 2010

MASSACHUSETTS-BRED SUPERSTAR ASK QUEENIE RETIRED

EAST BOSTON, MA - Ask Queenie, one of the most decorated Massachusetts-bred thoroughbreds of all time, has been retired after a brilliant eight-year career that included 20 state-bred stakes wins at Suffolk Downs. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Suffolk Downs will salute Ask Queenie on Saturday, October 30.

The nine-year-old daughter of Key Contender out of Time to Ask won 27 of her 63 starts, amassing a whopping $780,365 in career earnings, more than any other Mass-bred in history. She hit the board in 56 of her 63 starts, posting a career record of 27 wins, 15 seconds and 14 third-place finishes.

Tuesday, August 17 2010

SUFFOLK DOWNS ANNOUNCES PURSE REDUCTION

EAST BOSTON, MA -- Suffolk Downs will reduce its average daily purse distribution by 26% for the second half of its 2010 racing season to achieve a 13% reduction in purses for the meet, bringing purse distribution in line with statutory minimums, track officials announced today.

The reduction will bring the daily purse level for the last 50 days of the 100-day live racing meet from the current average of $89,000 per day to an average of $66,000 per day, saving the track over $1 million for the remainder of the season. Suffolk Downs expects to generate approximately $8 million in purses this season based on contributions to purses from handle mandated by Massachusetts’ statute.

Friday, July 30 2010

New England Horse of the Year announcement

DANVERSPORT, MA - Riversrunrylee, a two-time winner at Suffolk Downs last year, was named the recipient of the 2009 James B. Moseley Horse of the Year Award by the New England Turf Writers Association at its 68h Annual Awards Dinner held last evening at the Danversport Yacht Club in Danvers, MA.

Owned and bred by L and D Farm and trained by Juan Camilo, Riversrunrylee also earned champion older male honors in 2009.

Saturday, July 10 2010

EAST BOSTON, MA - Jockey Channing Hill swept the two $75,000 stakes races on the 75th Anniversary Day program at Suffolk Downs on Saturday in front of a celebratory crowd of 10,310.

Awakino Cat stumbled at the start under Hill, but recovered and rolled to a one-and-a-quarter length victory for trainer Linda Rice in the Seabiscuit Stakes, taken off the turf due to rain and run at five furlongs on the main track.

Wednesday, July 07 2010

Suffolk Downs Unveils Development Concepts

EAST BOSTON, MA - Bolstered by the potential of creating thousands of new jobs and enhancing the regional economy, Suffolk Downs today unveiled preliminary development concepts that would transform the historic Boston racetrack into a world class, resort-style entertainment and gaming complex, should the Commonwealth approve expanded gaming at the site.

The first phase of the resort-style development at the track’s 163-acre property in East Boston and Revere, including major renovation of the existing grandstand structure and new construction of a hotel-restaurant-retail complex, would immediately create an estimated 1,500-2,000 construction jobs and 2,250 permanent jobs, while preserving 1,500 existing jobs and thousands of acres of open space in the state by revitalizing Thoroughbred racing in Massachusetts. Track officials have also begun to solicit local community input and as a result have started the process of developing and implementing a comprehensive local transportation and infrastructure improvement plan for the area.

Saturday, June 05 2010

First Win for Jockey Jorge Fuller Vargas

EAST BOSTON, MA – Apprentice jockey Jorge Fuller Vargas, son of former New England jockeys Abby Fuller and Jorge Vargas, recorded the first win of his career on Saturday at Suffolk Downs before an appreciative crowd of 6,813.

After trailing the field for the first half-mile, Vargas improved position aboard Morgan, a three-year-old filly, before surging past the leaders in deep stretch to post a three-length victory in the day’s third race, a maiden claiming event for three-year-olds and up contested at one mile over the fast main track. Morgan covered the mile in 1:44.46 and paid $11.40, 4.20 and 3.00.

Tuesday, May 11 2010

Suffolk Downs Opens 75th Anniversary Season This Saturday

EAST BOSTON, MA - Opening Day of the 2010 live racing season at Suffolk Downs is this Saturday, May 15, Preakness Stakes Day. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. and first post time for the nine-race program is 1:15 p.m. The track is offering free admission as it opens the gates for its 75th anniversary season.

In addition to live racing, the track will simulcast the 135th running of the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD, where Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver will continue his quest for racing’s elusive Triple Crown. Wagering on the Preakness Stakes will be available both Friday and Saturday.

Saturday, March 06 2010

House Speaker DeLeo Outlines His Plan for Expanded Gaming in Massachusetts

“House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo today outlined his plan to bring gambling to Massachusetts, saying he supports construction of two resort-style casinos and a limited number of slots at the state's four racetracks.”
- Boston.com 3/4/10

Please click here to read more about the Speaker’s message yesterday at his speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday, December 19 2009

Help us celebrate the heritage of Suffolk Downs

Were you at Suffolk Downs in 1935?

Suffolk Downs will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2010. We are currently searching for photos, video footage and memorabilia from the construction and opening of the track in 1935. Additionally, we are trying to locate any of the 3,000 workers who helped build Suffolk Downs, as well as people who were here on the track’s first opening day as an employee, fan, horseman or otherwise.